4th February Match Reports

GMHA Team Match Report

TWO WINS IN ROW FOR REDDISH

After an average start to the season, Reddish showed their true potential in the last match against Manchester University and were now looking to pull away from the relegation zone. The next opposition for a team with new confidence was Saddleworth placed just one point below them and one who were sure to test Reddish again. After a modest start to the game by both teams, Reddish got bored and used their new improved attacking style taking the game to Saddleworth. The ball worked its way up the pitch accurately with the defence passing nice and smoothly to Laura Woodhead and Jenny Plant on the wings. Pushing up down the sides worked well for Reddish in the early stages and they came close to scoring the opening goal from a penalty corner which was pushed just wide of the left hand post by Lucy Cook.

Saddleworth worked hard to try and get the ball out of their defence but the Reddish attack seemed to be proving too strong and interceptions from hit outs were used effectively by the forwards to get the ball in the D. One of these drives was from half player Helen Elcock, who slid the ball into the path of Dunners who gladly accepted the opportunity to put Reddish into the lead with a firm push past the keeper. Reddish led one nil and Saddleworth looked to come back at them with drives down the middle of the pitch but tackles were too strong from the defence and they kept their attackers at bay.

Reddish used the counterattack well in the first half looking to expose the space in the Saddleworth midfield. The ball was picked up in the midfield and was passed to Dunners who used the freedom of the centre forward position to attack the Saddleworth defence. After coming close to losing the ball, a quick pass to Jenny Plant at the back post gave Lil Plant enough time to coolly put the ball past the Saddleworth keeper. Making the score two-nil enabled Reddish to relax a little while yet despite strong tackles in the midfield, Saddleworth made it to the Reddish D and earned themselves a penalty corner. From this they scored with a quick strike and with the score at two-one, Reddish needed half time to come quickly so they could regroup and try to further increase their lead.

At the start of the half Reddish used the width of the pitch more and continued to create chances. Amber Bryden used her pace to take on the Saddleworth defenders and created enough space to provide a shooting opportunity which she gladly took, driving the ball at a fast pace past the Saddleworth keeper. Reddish were now three-one up and looking dominant in all areas of the pitch. The defence held its nerve and Sarah pulled of some excellent saves to keep the visitors down to one goal. A long corner earned by the midfield enabled Reddish to further attack the Saddleworth D and the ball ended up in the back of the net again after a loose ball from a goal mouth scramble was flicked coolly over the diving keeper by Dunners, getting her second goal of the game and taking the score to four-one.

Reddish were working hard and looked a better team than at the start of the season, with increased team work and knowledge of each others games showing through. Saddleworth looked lost as their usual game didn’t seem to work and they had the opportunity to get consolation goals at the very end of the game with two penalty corners but Reddish kept their concentration and managed to hold out 4-1 winners for a well worked and deserved victory, moving further away from the relegation zone.

Rachel Dunley